Casey Kasem's Kids Beg Wife to Let Them See Him: "Don't Want Any of His Money"

Casey Kasem's kids, family and friends appeared on the TODAY show Oct. 3, begging his wife Jean to let them see the ailing radio host and say they "don't want any of his money."
Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

If it's an issue of money, Jean Kasem can have it. Casey Kasem's kids, family members and friends appeared on the TODAY show Thursday, Oct. 3, claiming the legendary radio host's wife is preventing them from seeing the ailing star.

Kasem, 81, is suffering from advanced Parkinson's disease, and his loved ones say they haven't been allowed to visit him in about three months. "Unfortunately the disease might be killing his body, but it doesn't need to kill his spirit and his soul," daughter Julie Kasem told TODAY.

Kasem's children (Kerri, Julie and Mike from his first marriage to Linda Myers) brother Mouner and friend Chuck Olsen claim Jean, Kasem's second wife of more than 30 years, won't return their messages.

"Jean has just folded him up and kept him under wraps," Olsen told TODAY. "Nobody can get to him."

"We don't know where to go," Mouner explained. "And hopefully we will see our loving brother, dad and our good friend again."

Kasem's family and friends staged a protest outside his home on Oct. 1, to draw attention to their efforts. Kerri, 41, admitted toThe New York Daily Newsthat her and her siblings' relationship with Jean hasn't been good, but that "it's cruel to keep us from seeing our dad."

Kasem's daughter Julie explained to TODAY that her motives to see the American Top 40 radio host are honorable. "I don't want any of his money, I don't want his estate, I don't want anything," she said. "I simply want to see my father on a regular basis . . . give him a hug, hold his hand, give him a massage, put a smile on his face. It's that simple."

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